Every year, the Bolder Boulder features thousands of citizen runners. It also features some of the world's elite runners in the International Team Challenge.

This year, the race will add a new twist. The Club Team Challenge will be a part of the citizens race this year for the first time.

"There has been a growing push to get the local clubs more involved in the competitive part of the race," said Don Janicki, the pro athlete coordinator for the Bolder Boulder. "We thought maybe we'll dabble in the citizens race and see what kind of response we get."

A handful of local running clubs, such as Newton Running, have entered teams in the citizens race. The clubs can enter as many runners as they'd like, but the top three men and the top three women will score. Runners must belong to a club and they must qualify for the "A" wave of the race.

Newton runners Fernando Cabada, left, and Jeremy Freed will participate in the Club Team Challenge on Monday.
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JEREMY PAPASSO
)

"We're just waiting and seeing how it all pans out," Janicki said. "I think it'll add a new dimension to the 'A' wave that hasn't been there."

Stephen Gartside, the executive sponsor of Newton Running Elite, said his team is excited about the challenge.

"It's something that creates one more level of competition for some that want to take it seriously," Gartside said. "If not, just the rivalry between the clubs is fun. It's a great addition."

Gartside mentioned that the Bolder Boulder has always prided itself on having a fast field in the citizens race, but said, "This just puts one more challenge out there to encourage a lot of fast people to spend their Memorial Day out there racing."

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Newton Running will certainly put a lot of people out on the course.

Newton's men's team will feature Fernando Cabada, who finished 16th at the Boston Marathon earlier this year. Mark Rochon, Bob Weiner and former citizens race winner Jeremy Freed will also compete for the men's team.

Newton's women's team is highlighted by a local legend, Melody Fairchild. Boulder-based Kara Henry and Amanda Scott, along with Colorado native Nicole Chyr will also run for Newton. Stephanie Pezzullo, from Charlotte, rounds out the team and she could be the best of the bunch.

Gartside said that the Bolder Boulder is the one race the club asked team members to include on their schedule. Newton is the official running shoe sponsor of the Bolder Boulder, so Gartside would like to see a good representation of the club at the race.

Regardless of whether the club runners are training through the race or going for the win, Gartside believes the Club Team Challenge will bring some competitive fire to the "A" wave.

"Maybe we'll be lucky and have one of our men win it and one of our women win it, as well," he said. "But, I certainly think there's going to be some strong competition for the win out there in the citizens race."

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